Zeynep Sonmez enjoyed an excellent Australian Open campaign, securing her second appearance in the third round of a Grand Slam.
Sonmez, 23, stunned 11th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Australian Open first round, before defeating Anna Bondar in straight sets.
Despite battling admirably in the third round, Sonmez was defeated 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 by Yulia Putintseva.
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Sonmez is a rising star of the women’s game, and following her performance in Melbourne, she is set to rise 33 places to world number 79.
The Turkish star revealed that – following her victory against Alexandrova in the first round – she received a message from Novak Djokovic.
Zeynep Sonmez’s reaction to Novak Djokovic’s message
“Novak Djokovic followed me and sent me a message. I got excited when he messaged me because I grew up watching him,” Sonmez [pictured below] told beIN TENIS.
“I was very excited when he messaged me. The next day, he came to me at the fitness center and congratulated me.
“He said, ‘Congratulations so much, and it felt like the match was in Turkey.’
“It was such a kind gesture. His behaviour is very polite. We chatted. It has been unforgettable.”
Unlike Sonmez, Djokovic is still competing for the Australian Open title. The Serbian star, who was almost disqualified from the tournament in round three, will play Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
If Djokovic defeats Musetti, he will play Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the semi-finals. The Serbian superstar should be well-rested following Jakub Mensik’s withdrawal from their fourth round match.
Novak Djokovic’s humorous reaction to Aryna Sabalenka breaking his record
In round three, Aryna Sabalenka won her 20th consecutive tiebreak at Grand Slam events, surpassing Djokovic’s total of 19.
On X [formerly Twitter], the Serbian star said: “I’m upset right now.”
The message was clearly meant with humorous intentions, encapsulating the friendly relationship Djokovic and Sabalenka have.
Who would win this legendary showdown?
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Djokovic is aiming for his 11th Melbourne title, while Sabalenka is aiming for her third in four years.
Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say